IACOMO TACHIS: I AM NO LONGER CONSULTANT FOR ANY WINERY MUCH LESS THE SAN GUIDO ESTATE AND I HAVE NOT SUGGESTED ANY NAMES TO TAKE MY PLACE, BECAUSE THAT DECISION IS UP TO THE OWNERS”

Giacomo Tachis, as WineNews had anticipated, has retired to private life, leaving a void in many of the most important wineries in Italy. Among these, the San Guido Estate, where Sassicaia wine, perhaps one of the most important new trends in Italian wines (begun in the mid 1980’s) is produced. WineNews recently asked Niccolò Incisa della Rocchetta owner of the estate, how they were planning to continue after Tachis, a true maestro of Italian enology.
Giacomo Tachis himself added a personal clarification:  “I worked as consultant for the San Guido Estate until a few months ago, when I definitely concluded my work with all wineries, says the Piedmontese winemaker, “now others can step in. When I left I did not propose any names to the company in Bolgheri because that is a decision that the proprietors themselves must make.”

Giacomo Tachis began working on the production of Sassicaia in 1968, after the Incisa family made an agreement for the marketing of the wine with Antinori (Tachis was the Antinori winemaker, ed), supervising its formation. Tachis has always worked diligently and continually on the management of Sassicaia, as agreed with the owners and at the end of 2009, his collaboration with the San Guido Estate ended.
“Sassicaia,” continues Tachis “is a wine that has given me much satisfaction, both personally and professionally, but like every season in life, the relationship with Sassicaia can now be considered concluded”. And what do you think will be the future of this wonderful wine? “If Incisa della Rocchetta, with whom I have a solid friendship, wants to dump it in a well, I would be very sorry, but people must do as they like. Anyway”, continues Tachis, “my hope for the future is that the management in vineyards, wine production and the processing of this important wine, characterizing the success of Made in Italy, will continue over the years with the same passion, rigorous quality and dedication that I gave it, harvest after harvest, without skimping on time or physical and intellectual energy”.

Now looking from outside the world of Italian wine, Tachis says, “I see a bright future for Italian wines, no doubt about it.” The work of Giacomo Tachis remains a key component in the evolution of Italian wine. The Piedmontese winemaker has historically turned many Italian wine companies from good to excellent production. His contribution was, perhaps more than any other winemaker, decisive and finding his successor is probably almost an impossible endeavor.